Kalei performs Ori Tahiti (Tahitian Dance) at Arts Corps' first community fundraiser Art & Sol held on July 28, 2018 at the Hillman City Collaboratory. Photo credit: the amazing Amy LP

Arts Corps is an amazing organization, one that I have had the ultimate blessing to work with as a Master Teaching Artist. I have grown so much as an artist, a leader, a teacher, and a student. I have found so much more of myself by sharing more of myself. And that is when I learned that I am ha'api'i, a Reo Tahiti (Tahitian language) word meaning both "to teach," and "to learn." In my three years with Arts Corps, I have been sharing hula, the dance and spiritual art form of the Hawaiian Islands, with my after-school hula class and Native-Hawaiian ambassador program "Hula Mai 'Oe." However, for the Art & Sol line-up, Arts Corps invited staff and teaching artists to take the stage and share their creative talents outside of the usual scope of the organization. It was an amazing experience to perform alongside the amazing Cheryl Delostrinos, Carlynn Newhouse, Eduardo Mendonça, Amy LP, Shelby Handler and so many others in this incredible and diverse cast.

I chose to share my love of dancing to the drum beats of Ori Tahiti with an Aparima and Ote'a performance. ​As my finale, in true teaching artist fashion, I asked everyone to join me in dancing fa'arapu, ta'iti, afata, and pa'oti while we all yelled joyously. Mauruuru, Arts Corps, for the work you do in igniting the light in us all.